Valve float for refrigerating systems



Nov. 3, 1931. N. H. GAY 1,829,828

VALVE FLOAT FOB. REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Filed Feb. 27, 1930v Y Patented Nov. 3 1931A i e Y v NORMAN rr. GAY, oF Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 'p vALvF:v FLOAT Fon RFFFIGFRATING sYsfiFiusl Appnetion, mea February 27, 1930. Serin No. 431,850.

The present invention relatesto improvements in valvefloats for refrigerating systems, and particularly proposes afloat oo nstruction Which automatically maintains 1ty5 self clear of condensed liquid.

`A eaturevof the present invention 1s the' provision of a float having free access for gas into its interior, but so constructed and arranged that any condensed liquid Withln the float is evacuated rfromr the same during the J cycle oi'operation of the refrigerating sysy l tem in which the iloat is placed.

Another eatureof the invention' is the provision of a very cheap and simply constructed V float which is not subject to collapsing or bursting duringthe phases of operation.

Wit-h these andother objects in vievv las Will appearin they course of the following specilication and claims,an illustrative form of .the '2U invention is setforth on they accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the Valve or trap chamber and through the float, With the floatin lowered position.

ioat in raisedposition. Y

According to this invention a refrigerating system' having a'receiver or chamber for liquid refrigerant is to be provided With a lioat valve which, in the `instance illustrated,

controls the'liquid level in the chamber kby regulating the quantity of fluid delivered into the chamber, but may alsobe -employed for f controlling the liquid level by regulating the y quantity of liquid delivered from the chamber. This iuid enters the chamber usually in liquid form and, kWhile the valvefis open,

` tends to raise the liquid level Within the chamq Ultimately the float is brought into 1 40 su ch a position that it closes the valveand this ber.

r delivery of the fiuidis shut oli". Liquid is continuously Y or intermittently yWithdrawn A `from this receiver With the result of lowering the liquid levelandthel float untilthe valve l 15 is again opened for thedelivery of further lfluid yinto the receiver. `This cycle o f operation continues for many days during the course of operation of the refrigerating mafchinery; `and itis essential that the float should at all times respond accurately land deinitely to the liquid vlevel in the receiver.

Dueto varying pressures in the refrigeration system the pressure in the chamber containing the float varie/s.` As the pressure rises above the internal pressure of the iioat, y the pressure upon the outer Walls oia closed loat tends to cause a collapsing yo rdistortion ofthe float. On the other hand, if the iioat be closed, a drop in external pressure below the internal pressure of the float maycause a burstingof the ball: and `hence aclosed ball must be of heavier materiali and hence larger for therequired buoyancy. Further, any leak or aperture inthe float Wall .will permit the entry of'gas which vmay be condensed into a liquid insidethe iioat during thehigh pressure portion of the cycleoi operation, and thus Weighting kthe float so that y it no longerV rises to the proper height in re- Fig. 2 is 'a corresponding view With .thev

that it holds the'valve substantially in a continuously open position, iny the illustrative example., ,l n y In the drawings, thereceiver 10 is shown asclosed except yfor a fluid inlet pipe 11, a gas equalizing pipe 9 which is illustrated as havingavalve 8, and a iuid Withdravvalpipe 12 Whichisfillustrated as having a valve 13 (by means of Which-valves chamber may be separated from the system).` In operation valves 8 and 13 remain open and pipes 9 andv 12 serve 'to' equalize the liquid levels and pressures With other portions` of the refrigerating system. The' pipe 11 has ay float-operated valve 14 Within the receiver, operatively connected to the crank arm 15 which supports a bearing plate or bushing 16 attached to the float 17. This float may be of any appropriate construction, but is yhere reprei 'sented as beingy substantially spherical. A

- pipe 18 passes downwardly through the float y 17 and forms a gas and liquid tight joint 19 upper space ofl the receiver, when thel prestherewith at the top of the float7 the'pipeV thus extending substantially diametrically downward through the float and being of suficient length so that it makes contact withV the inner wall of the float at its lower end 20, Adjacent its lower end the pipe 18,'is prolvided with one or lmore apertures 21.

In operation, when the float is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the'valve lllpermits the delivery ofv liquid through the pipe '11, whereby yto raise the liquid level in the receiver 10. As the liquid level rises, the float ball 17 is raised tothe position of F ig. 2 and its crank arm ory stein 1.5closesthe valve lll so'that no further liquid is admitted during this stage of the operation. kLiquid may be.-

withdrawn continuously or intermittently through thepipe 12 as the system may require it'.

' Due to varying pressures in therefrigerating system, pressures in the ioat chamber vary*` correspondingly. Since 'the interior space ofthe'loat 17 isin direct communication by the pipe 1 8 and openings 21 with the sure rises in the float chamber, `gas will. flow downward in the pipe 18 and into the interior f *of floaty 17 until a pressure balance is again Vcal point for the temperature involved, there established. If the'pressure is above a critiwillv be vactual condensation o some of the Y refrigerant gas ywithin'the float-17 to forma pool of liquid 22 therein. The remaining gas,

'if thefgas-pressure within the receiver continues to increase, `will bubble upwardly through this forming pool of' liquidV 2 2.

On the other hand,when the pressure in the system rfalls, the gaspressure in the float chamberlO is Vcorrespondingly lowered, so

that a further change of equilibrium between the pressure' insideand outside of the iioat e This purging operation is accomplished 'at-V .v each dropin pressure in the controlled por!V i i 17 occurs/'and the body fof gas within the upper portion' ofV the float 17 now operates upon the surface of the pool of liquid 22- whereby to force this liquid through the aperture'21 and upwardly in the pipe y1S/so that it ilows out of the open upper'e'ndof thepipe andjoinsth'e general body of liquid withinl the receiver 10. This operation mayalso be lilateriallyy assisted by the eva'porating 'of e ksoine of the liquid in the interior of the float' 2.-' due to falling'pressures,"thus creating'more gas in the iioa't and displacing more liquid.

tion of the refrigerating'system, so long as `liquid remains in the .pool 22` above the level Vet the apertures 21': and hence the float is maintained at a predetermined buoyancy. Y

The pipe 1.8v is preferably soldered or weldi' ed. intol the upper wall 'of the oat 1 7 at the point 19 and extends downwardly into contact with the lower wall of the float at it-s lower end 20, so that it prevents any crushing or collapsing of the float underl sudden and rapid changesl of pressures.

lthas been oundin practice that, under relatively fast rising and falling of pressure in the chamber, the float, if made of material `fragile enough to give the desired buoyancy,

tends to breathe. lf tube 18 were extended to withinl a'short distance of the bottom oit tending the tube to the bottom of the float,

the'tube actsras a strut to stillen the float and,

byineans of holes 2l'in-thetube,the equalizing feature is made permanent.

Such float control mechanisms may be einployed in various ways in the refrigerating and other arts, as pressure reducing or expansion valves, as auxiliaries fory hand loperateol and hand Vset reducing or expansion valves, and as pilot valves for diaphragm operated pressure reducing valves.r The float is pecul- Y 'iarly applicable for usage in maintaining liquid levels' in the pressure or condensing portion ofrefrigeratiiig systems where high pressures exist and a loat of low weight and great buoyancy is required. Equalization of pressure permits floats of shapes otherthan Y spheres in pressure containers', in which case limited tothe form ollconstructionshown, but 'that it may beinodiliedin many ways within theV scope ot the appended claims.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

atingplant having a closed receiver with'- a kvarying liquid level therein whereby changes of gas pressure occur as well as changes of,

liquid level, the combinationof a valve and a lioat to control the'said valve, said float comprising a hollow memberV having a downwardly vprojecting tubular conduit therein extending from the upper side to the opposite Vinner surface of the float against which it l bears, said conduitlhaving an opening to the interior of the member closely adjacent its bottoin'eiid andopenat its upper end into said,v receiver, said conduit'being ixedly secured in position in the float, thereby providing a stiffening strut within the Hoat. f Y

2. 'ln a float valve structure-tor a refrigerating plant having a closed receiver witha a 'varying liquid level therein whereby changes or gas pressure occ'u'rasv well as changes of fthe breathing of the sides of the float may v be much more pronounced. l

It is obvious that the kinvention is' not* '1110 l. In a float valve structure for a retriger-Y i float to control the said Valve, including a movable connecting member between said valve and float, said oat comprising a hollow member, a tubular conduit extending dia- -y metrieally within the float from an opening in its upward side to the opposite inner surface thereof against which it bears, said conduit being hermetically and iXedly secured Vto the float at said Opening and having an 'opening adjacent its bottom end communiasfk eating it with theinteror of said ioatt.V

In testimony whereof, I aix my si nature.

NORMAN AY. 

